How to stop my breast milk from coming in?

Nancy - posted on 05/13/2012

Peppermint tea, candy, icecream...anything peppermint will work. I almost lost my milk because of my love of mint chocolate chip icecream! But seriously, make 4 cups of tea in a quart mason jar - in the morning - sweeten it however you want, and drink all throughout the day. At the same time, I would take Pulsatilla. It's a homeopathic (totally natural) remedy you will find at most health food stores. This one is popular because it is used to treat colds with runny noses....meaning, it's going to dry up mucous membranes - this will dry up your milk. It is safe, and proven effective. I breasted nine of my twelve babies and used this when I was ready to stop breast feeding and baby wasn't. Your body will stop producing milk and baby will be less interested in nursing and more interested in getting milk other ways. ~~~ Yes, cabbage leaves help the discomfort. If you get engorged, feel knots/lumps, etc, get in the shower and let the warmest water (you can stand) run over your chest. You'll probably let some milk out, and will feel so much better. God bless and good luck.

Anna - posted on 05/03/2012

if you did it abruptly yes its gonna hurt for a while, the trick that worked for me was reducing feeds gradually.Start by feeding only on demand and not give voluntarily. And even when baby fees it wold be a short feed, just to help with the swelling. The slightest feed used to work for me. So a gradual stoppage might help. Good luck

Anna - posted on 05/03/2012

if you did it abruptly yes its gonna hurt for a while, the trick that worked for me was reducing feeds gradually.Start by feeding only on demand and not give voluntarily. And even when baby fees it wold be a short feed, just to help with the swelling. The slightest feed used to work for me. So a gradual stoppage might help. Good luck

Ashley - posted on 05/04/2010

try to where your old bras. Like before you got prego. if you bined them as tight as you can it will dry you up. I havent weened my babe yet but thats what they did to my Mom when she wasnt going to breastfeed her babies.

Kathy - posted on 05/04/2010

If it's too painful, have a warm shower - the warmth will release a bit of milk. You do have to keep up a bit of stimulation from time to time to relieve the pain and remove the build up of milk. Not doing this could lead to mastitis.

Norhuda - posted on 04/28/2010

Just put cabbage leaves like how you would line your bra with a breast pad to stop leakage. Over time the milk will stop coming in.. In the meantime just try to bear with the pain and dont pump anymore.. Hope that helps

Becca - posted on 04/26/2010

Cabbage leaves stop breast milk from coming in. Last week's breastfeeding support group I went to mentioned that putting cabbage leaves inside your bra they dry up your supply. Good Luck!

Rebecca - posted on 04/26/2010

Just let it dry up I breastfed 6 kids of mine. and it was tuff but I got through. Becky

Nicole - posted on 04/26/2010

I am so sorry! Can you call your doctor and see if there is a medication that would work for both of you? Only pump/express to comfort and the cabbage leaves in your bra will help.

Brenda - posted on 04/26/2010

Absolutely NO stimulation. Where a sports bra. Yes, it will un-comfortable but with time, you will dry up. When your child wants to feed....re-direct them to another source. (bottle, sippy cup, etc.) Good Luck. I know it's painful but you can take Tylonal for discomfort too. If you have more questions....call your lactation consuiltant at your nearby clinic or hospital.

Rebecca - posted on 04/26/2010

water retention tablets really work!

Andrea - posted on 04/26/2010

My son is 1 year & 2 months already..i tried weaning my son at 5 months but i wasnt ready so i kept breastfeeding. & i would love to take it slow on him in not taking it away just like that but my dr. gave me some anxiety pills & i can not breastfeed him if i take them. Hes takin it really really good during the day. but during the night its the worsed! once he wakes up its just crying & crying until i walk around with him. its exhausting.

Hannah - posted on 04/26/2010

Breast shells (like plastic cups) relieve the pressure and draw out a little milk when you feel engorged. But unfortunately they are quite large so not to be worn in public, but great around the house!

Ink - posted on 04/26/2010

Christmas 09 I almost destroyed my breastfeeding with my son... by accident.
I absolutely LOVE peppermint candy.. and had been through about 3 BOXES of candy before my midwife discovered my culprit was the peppermint. Try eating a ton of peppermint candy?
We didn't do the cold turkey thing.. I was afraid it would be too painful. We used a weaning method called 'don't offer don't refuse' and as he got to where he was eating more and more solids.. he was coming to the breast less and less.. my milk tapered off without any pain whatsoever.

Julienne - posted on 04/26/2010

Freeze baby nappies you have soaked under a tap.... just to provide some relief. Good luck

Kristin - posted on 04/25/2010

How to stop breast milk from coming in: Don't empty your breasts, pump just enough to take the edge off. Compression will help too, there is just no space to fill up with milk.

Jessie - posted on 04/25/2010

Why did you not wean your son? and how old is he? it's one thing if the baby stops cold turkey but it's just nuts to stop cold turkey yourself, ouch! not only painful for you but probably traumatizing for him as well. Anyways, cabbage leaves are recommended often good luck

Rachelle - posted on 04/25/2010

I know this sounds nuts but make some pancakes. When your breasts feel way too full and you can't stand it stick the pancakes in your bra, make sure they are nice and hot. It stimulates the breast to let the milk out, but it's not like you're nursing and it absorbs it all at the same time! It sounds totally nuts but it works to stop breast milk from coming in.

Andrea - posted on 04/25/2010

Thank you so much girls for your help! Im gonna be sure to try ice packs & cabbage leaves...& go on the search for that sage tea :)

Shelly - posted on 04/24/2010

Well I kinda had the same situation that your in but my son is 11months....I stopped pumping about a week ago the thing to do is space out as much as you can without pumping or nursing and do it for only short periods of times, Only when you cant stand it ANYMORE! I tried cabbage leaves and cold compresses they helped some...hope this works for you and good luck

Heather - posted on 04/24/2010

Sounds like you stopped cold turkey, huh? I weaned both my children down. I dropped 1 feeding, waited a few days, then dropped another, etc so it was a more comfortable process for me and my children.

Renee - posted on 04/24/2010

Ony pump or even better express a small amount when you can't stand it anymore. You will have to gaurd your boobs from everyone, because as you know they will hurt from the slightest bump. Cold compress or cabbage leave works. Many people think the cabbage leaves have emzymes in them that causes your body to produce less milk, but that is an old wise tale, only the cold helps. Replace ice packs or cabbage leaves when they are no longer cold or frozen. I would even freeze my cabbage leaves so that they could last longer for me. The leaves are nice in the fact that they are flexiable and form to the breast more. But now that I think about it you could do the same with freezing a wet rag. Some people say frozen pees are good, but that's too bulky for me, I don't have time to hold bags of pees. I always liked stuff I could put in my bra and go about my day not in so much pain. You replace them as soon as the pain comes back or if you notice they are melted or not cold anymore then by all means go ahead and replace them. It took my boobs a month to go down, I can still squeeze milk out but I am now back to my normal size and have no pain at all. Sage tea is proven to prevent the production of milk, so if you can get a hold of it then drink lots of it. I like to sleep on my belly so I would sleep with flexable ice packs and that helped a lot.

Becca - posted on 04/26/2010

Cabbage leaves stop breast milk from coming in. Last week's breastfeeding support group I went to mentioned that putting cabbage leaves inside your bra they dry up your supply. Good Luck!

Kristin - posted on 04/25/2010

How to stop breast milk from coming in: Don't empty your breasts, pump just enough to take the edge off. Compression will help too, there is just no space to fill up with milk.

Rachelle - posted on 04/25/2010

I know this sounds nuts but make some pancakes. When your breasts feel way too full and you can't stand it stick the pancakes in your bra, make sure they are nice and hot. It stimulates the breast to let the milk out, but it's not like you're nursing and it absorbs it all at the same time! It sounds totally nuts but it works to stop breast milk from coming in.